Garden City Helicopters is very experienced in providing helicopter support services to fire fighting operations all across our region including remote locations and mountainous terrain.
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Safety
is an
inherent part of our culture and has come from years of operating the
Air Rescue Service and other commercial operations. Garden City
Helicopters has one of the most enviable safety records in helicopter
aviation in New Zealand. The vast international experience of our
pilots, regular training, familiarity with equipment and extensive and
continual exposure to the extreme terrain covered by our operation,
ensures our safety record is maintained.
Maintenance
is
conducted by our in house engineers, ensuring preventative and on going
maintenance programmes are scheduled, monitored and carried out so that
they have the least possible effect on the provision of our services.
Our engineers are also available for any in-the-field maintenance
required.
Credibility
of billing is maintained by auditable reference to hour meters in each helicopter.
Fire Response Capabilities
Helicopter Fleet |
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|  | Eurocopter AS350BA Squirrel
Capacity: 600 litres per lift
Specifications >>
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| Eurocopter BK117
Westpac Rescue Helicopter
Capacity: 1,000 ltrs per lift
Specifications >> |
| Robinson R44 Raven ll
Carries 3 passengers
Fire co-ordination platform
Police/Fire Service radio
Specifications >> |
| Robinson R22 Beta ll
Carries 1 passenger
Fire co-ordination platform
Specifications >> |
Depending on requirements, Garden City Helicopters can respond with either the BK117 or the AS350BA Squirrel or both. Due to EMS Air Ambulance commitments, the BK117 may be unavailable at times. Should the BK117 be called to a fire, it is then dedicated to that fire and is made unavailable for EMS Air Ambulance work while that fire is active.
Fire Response Times
Call out to airbourne response times: Work Hours: 10 minutes After Hours: 20 - 30 minutes
Contact us 24 hrs a day by phoning our base number 03-358-4360 or Grant Withers on 027-274-4662.
Pilots
Garden City Helicopters employs six full time pilots and a number of part time pilots as required. All fire fighting pilots have high levels of experience at fire fighting both in New Zealand and overseas with a combined flying experience of tens of thousands of flying hours. All pilots hold night ratings and are instructor rated. Ground Support
- Ground staff are supplied at no cost
- Ground staff ensure all machines are supplied around the clock
- Ground staff hold appropriate dangerous goods licenses and are highly trained
- A four wheel drive vehicle carries all support equipment including fuel for all aircraft
- Air to ground communications are maintained
- A 1400lt fuel tanker is towed by the four wheel drive vehicle (see below)
 
Fire Equipment
We use collapsible Dew Drop buckets that fit into each helicopter for easy transport to the fire. Bucket skirts adjust the water flow to suit the fuel to be extinguished or for filling portable dams. C-Dax units provide the correct foam concentration for each fuel type. Garden City Helicopters also carries a full set of lifting gear and safety equipment (also an onboard winch with the BK117) to cover all contingencies at fires. A pod provides extra carrying capacity for the Squirrel (see picture above)
 
Summary
Garden City Helicopters has a long and successful history of providing professional helicopter services to fire professionals. Our pilots are the most experienced aerial fire fighters in Canterbury and operate the most cost effective helicopters available using the most up to date equipment. We operate as an autonomous team but with the ability and genuine desire to work with other operators to achieve the best result, extinguishing the fire as quickly as possible.
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